Insulation for third rails



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w. H. FORD INSULATION FOR THIRD RAILS Filed March 16 EEDQIDEFE nu Nov. 22, 1932.

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Dmmmlmmm Nov. 22, 1932. w. H. FORD INSULATION FOR THIRD RAILS Filed March l0, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNW Nov. 22, 1932.

w. H. FORD INSULATION FOR THIRD RAILS.

Filed Mardi v1'0 1951 I* du '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 22, 1932. w. H. FORD INSULATION FOR TIHIRD RAILS lFiled March l0.

1951 4- Sheets-Sheet 4 Tard www 1 Patented Nov. 22,` 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM H. FORD, OF BUFFALO, `NEW YORK, AssIeNORfrOLIQUInJvFNEEF OORF'ORA- I TION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A OORFORATION OF NFWYORK',

INSULATION vFon THIRD RAILS Application-md March 10,1931. serial No, 521,505.

its construction a system for supporting third rails and insulating the Various sections thereof.

Third rails used as current conductors are commonly employed in conjunctionwith railwaytracks, the third rail being more or less co-eXtensive with the tracks andcomprising membersrof different cross-sectional forma-y v D p Y d1t1ons,ror conditionsofuse; and furthertions. Y

i It has heretofore been the practice of supporting third rails by means of insulators ap-Y plied to thevarious members of the third rail;

said members-invariably having been housed in with .boards of-wood and arranged 1n varisary to cross tracks, from coming in contact with the rails which'carry current of a' high voltage. j Y

Supporting insulators,orwhat are usually termed rail insulators, usedr up to the present time are made of porcelain or other fragile material and are comparatively expensive.

Moreover, noprovision is made for litting them to, or interfitting them with, the wooden boards used as protectors for the thirdrail.

It is oneofvthe objects of my invention to provide a system in which 4self-retainingin sulating sections `or members areV employed and effectively cover the various members of the third rail in a manner that'only the con'- tact surface of thelrail is exposed; the various members of the system, including the supporting insulators, being constructed so that they. may be quickly and easily applied to the third rail, and the'covering sections or members without fastening means of and without the use `of tools. ,c j,

Another Object of my invention is' to provide an insulation covering for third rails, constructed so' that, regardless ofthe crosssectional formation of any of the .third rail sections or members, adjacent endsv of the insulationcovering sections or members are of substantially the samecross-sectiona'l forma'- tion and interiit one'with the other.

Another object Ofmy inventionis to provide Aan insulation covering for third rails, whlch 1s 'impervious to the elements of the commonly in use.1- 1 ous ways to prevent persons', linding it neces# any kind,

Weather and so constructed that Oil, grease, 4

,brine, o'r other foreign substances such as are used in thefuplree'p of road beds and the tracks thereof, or'suchas are transported over the rails, will not come in contact with the third rail.

j A" further object is -theprovisionlof an `Tinsulation vcovering *whichv is" nonshrinkable,

non-warping, and nonbreakablmand whichy will not swell, regardless )of the weatherconmore, one which possesses great dielectric Y strength, so highly desirable in thirdl rail coverings also which is far superior to and greatly outlasts lwood coverings of the type'now so A lfurther Objectis the provision of a waterproofl insulation f covering for' third rails which, aided by its'construction, assures complete and* thorough waterproof insulation,

eliminates short circuits and arcing of the.

current, protects the'rails from deterioration,

and requires only a small fraction of the time for applying it to the third rail of anyzknown covering now extant. c e l A further obj ect of my invention'is the provision of an insulation covering "in which the:

inherent `resiliency of the'same .tends to effec.-` tively grip and cause retentionof the covering Von the .rail and which is so constructed that it cannot split and exposedangeious rails.

"A stilll further object of my Vinvention is -to provide an insulation covering which can be easily and quicklyv removed in sections fori inspection of, and making repairs-to,orlre placing rail rsect1ons,1andwh1ch can be as quickly replaced withoutin anyl manner inj uring ities. 'i

VThe invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction, in the arrangement and combination of parts, and in the material from which the various insulation members orsections are constructed," all as will be described a'rticularlypointedv out a corresponding length of'third -rail equipped thel same or affecting its gripping q'ual- Y `with my improved supporting insulators and insulation covering sections; the third rail shown in this vligure being standard or straight-line rail sections supported at inter- Vsup vals'by means ofinsulation supports lsecured to tiesv of the tracks. l

Fig. 2 is a plan view oftwo parallel tracks having cross-over connections in the form of switches, such ascommonly used, but thede- 'tails of which are'omitted,jand in connection therewith showingthird railshavingsections of different forms equipped with my `improved insulation means, consisting of assembled and interfittincr Vcoverin sections and f s g A Y supporting insulators.

klilig isa plan view of portions of Atwo f .v :tracks arranged at ri'ghtangles and showing the saine :infconjunction withthird rails hav-1 ing my @improved insulating covering'and Vrting insulatorsfapphedthereto.: Y J

igualL is a side elevation of a portionv of a third rail,v showingA theY manner of supporting thesamefby'meanspf aibracket and a supporting insulatorcarred by the bracket,

Jalso showing adjacent portions of rsaidrails equipped Awith my. improved insulation cov- 5is a planview of acurved portion of a railway track in conjunction with a curved portion of athird rail, showing -my v improvedinsulation coveringand supporting i insulators vin connection withfsaidthird rail..-- 1 rFig. 61s a soinewhat'enlarged view' of av -third rail, 'brokento indicate. added length andshowing two kdifferent `forms of insulation i supports and several forms olf-insulation cov- `erling sections or members employed .in my Y improved insulation system.

t' YFiggfisa side elevation ofthe parts illustrated in Fig. 6.V f

. Fig. `Sfis a side" elevation of a ,third` rail,

ygimproved"insulation support in connecsection, taken on1line'9-9,Fig. 7.

.'Fig. '10 is an enlarged: cross-section through a'supporting bracket for an offset rail section,

Fig. 11, is an enlarged cross-section through" Va straightlin'e railsection, takenoniline ii;i;ii,Fig.7.- Y

Fig; .121s anenlarsf FOSS Section thogh a bonded raillsection, ytaken on line .12%-125 Fig; 7. I i y .Y V]r"ig`.1'3 Visan enlarged cross section` through a' transition rail section,.taken on line 13e-13,

' i Fig. 14A Vis an'. enlarged icross section, taken --oii'lineY114e-14, `7,"and illustrating the 4 Amanneirin` which theconta'ctshoe of'a locoj 1 motive comes incoiitactiwith' a transition or leinployeo'rlrson a strai tion 'of Va thirdV rail.

an odset section and in which itetravels in contact with said sections. f

Fig. l5 is a perspective view ofa transition rail section. Y Y

Fig. 16 is a longitudinalsection through adjacentends of adjoining sections -or niembers 'of'my insulation covering, .showing the 'manner in which one is overlapped by the other. Y Fig., 17 is aplany view of'a 'portion ofa Ithird rail, showing an oli'set member of a third rail-between straight-lineor standard Vmembers. l'

'Figa' 18is aniinverted perspective viewof a straight-line section' or member of my proved insulation covering. 'n

y Fig. 19`is an'inverted perspectivevi-ew of" an odset section or member of the covering.

' Fig. 20 is an enlargedcross section through n Y astraight-line section or member ofv the cov# f cring.

Fig Qlis ank inverted perspective view oil?Y a bonding` section or member used aspart of mvinsulation'covering. i

Fig. 22 is an inverted Vpart of my insulation covering. l

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of al righthand transition section or member of the covering. i

Fig.v 24 is a perspective; view, of'a left hand "35. i

transition section ormember of the covering. Fig. 25'isfan inverted perspectivejviewof the transition section or member illustrated in Fig. 23, reversedend VVfor'end Figsf26 and 27 are perspective views of the Y perspective view'ot Vanoifset bondingY section or member used as twofiiartsv forming each of v.the supporting f insulatorsemployed .on at'ransition oran offset section of al thirdrail.

Figs; es, y'29; and so are Vprespective' views@ of the three parts of a supporting insulator ghtfline or standard sec- 31 is a perspectiveview'of the Ving niedium'employed to. clampA the parts of the supporting insulators together andto fasbrackets of the third rail.v

Referring'to the drawings Vin detaiLthe, i Y. numeral @designates the ties of arailway,

track, 33 the rails thereof.V 'These rails yane i' `shown in cross-over relation in Fig. 3,` while E' two parallel tracks areshownin Fig. 2.y in 'i fric y ten the sofclainped parts touthesupporting 1 which figurethe two tracks are connected by cross-over ork switch railsv 34;. 'At Aregular intervals, theties are made somewhat longer` and extend'o'utw'ardlv atoneside ofthe track,

asat 35, to carry third rail supportingbrachtV ets` 36. which are bolted or otherwise fastened torthelties'ina secllreinanner. VEach, braclle-tu` i has lan inwardly-directed upper end provid.

ingang inwardlyffacing flat -bearingjsurface 37 which may be slightly curved Aoutwardly 'Y fat itsupper end, as at l38, and at its lower end it is provided VVwith an inwardly-*directed ledge: or rib39V serving-as the mainsupportfi for a rail supportinginsulator adapted to receive within it portions of a third rail 41 formed vof different crosssections at different regions along the rail.' p

lThe third rail illustrated is a bottomcontact rail, and it comprises straight or straightline rail sections 42, transition rail sections 43, and odset rail sections 44 these being commonly employed in bottom third rails.

Each straight-line rail section is of" substantially Lformation having a head 47 ,'a shoe contact portion 48, usually similar to the head 47 in cross-sectional formation, and a connecting'web 49. '1 I L Each of the transitionrail sections has offset parallel end portions 50, l, and an oblique intermediate portion 52 connecting said offset l end portions. One of the offset end 4portions is similar in cross-sectional formation to the straight-line rail sections, against one of which it abuts, and the other end has its heard 53 similar to the head of a straight-line rail section while thef shoe contact portion 54 is transversely widened laterally in opposite directions and has its under side serving as a contact surface inclined upwardly and in-l wardly toward the railway track, as at 455. The transverse widening of the shoe contact `portion is Aconsiderably `greater at the inner side of the rail than the outer side thereof,

and 'this Y transversely widened or extended contact surface 55 is gradually reduced iso as to merge into the'regularly-formed contact surfaceat the opposite offset end portion'of the oHset section; and with this in view the inner edge of the shoe contact portion is substantially straight-lined.

' The cross-sectional formation of the offset rail sections 44 is the same as the widened ends of each transition rail sections, and these of set rail sections are placed between the transitionj sections;l the length of the third rail y formed by a series of' oflset'sections dependingV on the curvature ofthe railway track, or on switches lor cross-overs employed in the Vtrack system. In the drawings, parts of the offset sections are designated by numerals corresponding with thoseapplied to corresponding parts of the offset sections. f

fAll of the rail sections mentioned are in common use in bottom or under-contactrails, and are well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates. V

Supporting insulatorsareemployed in connection with each supporting bracket 86, and these are in two forms, designated v56 aind?, respectively. The supporting insulators '56 are for vstraight-line rail sections and each is formed of three sections or parts 58,159 and 60, while the supporting insulators 57 are for the offset or the transition sections and are formed in two parts 61 and '62.

The supporting insulators 56 'for the straightlline rail sections may there'fore'be Y spectively.

or undercontact said to comprise a head member, referred to v as the part 58, and outer and inner side members, referred toas the The head member 58.7comprises a transversely widened solid insulation member whose longitudinal fmarginal portions 63 overhang the sides of the head 47 of the third railsection with which it is used, and the region of its under surface between said overhanging portions is curved or otherwisev formed to conform tothe upper surface of said rail.

The undersurface of said o'verf hangingmarginal portions 63j are inclined downwardly from the head of' therail andv provided with depending longitudinal flanges 64 spaced from the head of said rail.. The

upper face' of this head portion is provided i with atransverse groove 65 which is continue'd' downwardly along` thefinner or'edge against the inwardly-facing flat bearing-surface 87 of the supporting bracket.

rlhe inner' sides of the side members 58, 59,l have inwardly-projectingl portions 67 which enter the depressions in opposite sides ofthe rail. These inwardly-projecting portions may be termed Vrail-carrier or supporting portions 'and they are slightly narrower than the depressions in said rail. Their up- Aper faces or edges are in contact with the under side of the head47 atopposite sides of the rail. These side inembers'alsobear overhangingcmarginalportions of thev head member 4against which they bear. The-upper endsof said side members are positioned A between the oppositek faces of the depending Vflanges 64 on the head member 58, and 'they are rabbeted, 'as at 68, to receive said flanges. Y

The supporting insulators are'of alength to extend beyond oppositeV edges vof their supporting brackets, and the outer side member 59"' of each insulator applied toV a straight-line rail section is providedl on its outer face with a Alongitudinal grooveor depression 69, having a 'downwardly-facing shoulder 70 and into which theledge'or rib 39 on the supporting bracket is entered. downwardly-facing shoulder formed by said depression bears against the `upper side-of said ledgeor rib; thus theouter side member Y 59' issupported by thersupporting bracket 87 andV is positioned between the latter' and i the third rail. i f

The inner sidefmenib'er 60'has a'` groove 'i 71 in its outer fac'eextending from theupper edge of said member downwardly, and this ygroove terminatesl in 'a widened portion. v'72 rhaving its inner wall inclined outwardly from its upperv end and providing downwardly-facing'shoulders 73 at said upper end.

The groove 7l 4is alined with the groove 65 ofthe head member 58, and the grooves 65 and7l, including the widened lower end ofthe latte-r, are adapted rto receive anchor- -ing means in thefform of Ian angular-'lor L- sliaped bolt 7 4 having a'sci'ew-threaded-cylindrical outer ,end .portion`75 and an an- Y gular'flat rinner end'y portion 76 provided at Y its fre'eend with lateral extensions 77. This .anchor bolt fitted into the grooves 65 and 71, and the lateral extensions 77 of said bolt .enter the widenedflower portion 72 ofthe igroove 71 in the outer side-member and'have .their Vupper edges in contact with the down-y wardly-facing.shoulders 7 Slof said outer side member.

tlirough VVan fopeningpin the supporting bracket 36 and has a nut78 threadedthereto which, upon being tightened vagainst the bracketpulls upon the angular bolt74,l drawing the vertical Vor substantially vertical arm 79' of said angular flat portion 7 Gfupwardly 'l and outwardly, while the substantially horizontal 'arm 8O Vof saidk angular flat portion is ldrawn outwardly; thus the Lthree sections ofthe supporting insulator are d'iawn'rmly together; the headmember 58 and the outer side member 59 beingY drawn firmly in con'- tact with each other and againstr the inwardly facing flat bearing surface 87 of the supporting bracket. 36, ,while the vinner "side member is drawn against the third rail to Vassurelirm contact between thetwo and at v the saiie time forcing said inner side inemberA firmly against the inner overhanging marginal-portionof the head member. l.The

' anchor bolt properly supports said inner side member through the mediuinof its lateral eX- t'ensions 7 7.V The main support for the outer side member is therefore established by the lateral extensions or lugs 77 ofthe vanchor bolt, or as it may be termed,thehooked anchor bolt, while theledgeor vrib 39 serves as the main support -for the outer side inem- Y ber. Y

In the supporting insulators used in convjunction -withtheoffset or the transition sectionsof the thirdV rail, one of the parts 6l serves as a combined Vhead memberA and in-K. Y ner side `member, the under sideof the lhead portion l8l having a region conforming to the upper surface of the third rail, and from .Y this region said under side is inclined outywardly toward the inwardly-,facing flat-bearing surface 37 of the supporting bracket, the inner lside portion 82 being integral with the head portion 8l and extending downwardly n from. said head portion;` Said linner side por- Y 'tion 82 has an inwardly-directed projection '.83 fitting int-o the depression at the innerside The "screw-threaded l cylindrical' outer end portion k75 of said bolt-is passed Y ofthe railsection and against the lunder side of the head thereof, "and it also hasY at `its longitudinal depression 85fforining a downwardly-facing shoulder which vbears 'against the ledge or rib 39 ofthe supporting brachenV and on its innerY side it has an upwardly-,projecting portion 85L which kenters the depression in the outer side'of 'the rail section. rThe upper face or edge of this inwardly-project-A` ing portion is in contact with the underside ofthe head 47 at the same side Yofthe rail section.

, It is to be noted -tha'tthe' outer and inner y ymembers 59 and 60 of the supporting'insulators entend downwardly along the side of the Y .shoe contact portion 48 ofthe straight-line Y rail section, and thisis also true of the outer member 62used in conjunction with a transition or an offset rail section thus guardingl against the elements of the weather coming I in conta-ct with the rail. Due to the fact that the wide eXtension'84 extends over and vbeyond the inwardly-directed' wide part of the shoe contact portion of the transition'vorthe offset rail section, elements of the weather are carried outwardlyffree of the shoe` contact portion of said transition or said offset rail section; 'especially since the upper surface of said extension is inclineddownwardly to its edge, asclearly shown, in Figi-10., Y

A groove 86 is formed in the head portion l8l of member 6l, and'this groove is continued downwardly along the outer face ofthe innerV sideportion 82, terminating in a `wide recess 87- having downwardly-facing shoulders 88 at opposite sides of said recessat the inner wall 89 thereof.Y Hooked anchorv bolts, such as used in conjunction with-the `supporting i insulators of the straightlineVV rail sections are also employedin the manner described with reference to saidv straight-line sections `and are similarly numbered, and

theyA serve `,to drawthe members 6l and v62 of the supporting insulator against the iny wardly-facingliat bearing surface 37 of theV supporting bracket and also holdfthe twoV members together; thus vclampingthe offset sectionsy of thethird railin a secure manner between the two members of said supporting insulators. ,v

The rail sections 12. The supporting insulatorsA 56 and 57 cover practically all except the contact surface ofthe regions of the third rail to which they lare applied, andthe insulation covering sectionsv cover the rail between saidisupg- Y are bonded ltogether as illustrated, for example at 90. Figs. 8 and porting insulators, 'excepting' only the conl tion railv sections bonded together'.

ln addition to the covering sections 91 and tact surface thereof.

These insulation covering sections are used in various combinations. For the straightline rail sections, straight-line covei'ing elements or sections 91 are used., which may bereferred to as main sections, due to the fact that these will be used in largest quantities. In conjunction with these straight-line covering elements or sections, comparatively short straight-linebond-covering sections 92 are used; they being placed directly over the ends of straight-line rail sections and abutting correspondingly-shaped ends of transi 92, my insulation covering or system includes the use of offset covering sections 93 andofi'- setbond-covering sections 94, both of which are applied to the odset rail sections 44, and wherever offsetV covering sections are eniployed in conjunction with the straight-line or main covering sections 91 or a' straightline bonding covering section 92, a transition' coveringsection 95 is used, said transition form of lugs molded integral with the side walls and spaced apart, as clearly shown in Fig. 18.

- It may here be stated that the insulating supports 56, 57 and all of the covering sections constituting myrinsulation system are preferably made of rubber and suitable waste material, forming what may be termed a rubber composition, due to the presence ofrubber therein. The various rubber composition elements employed arel fashioned from thin layers built-up over a form and introduced into a mold, wherein the structure thuscreated is vnlcanized so as to provide the desired finished formation of parts, or walls ofA ,each part and accessories thereto. The walls of the covering parts are comparatively thin and Y are therefore yieldable to pressurecausing the side walls in the main covering sections to separate in applying such sections over arail section. The inherent resiliency ofthe covering sections will tend to bring the side walls in firm contact with the'sides of the rail at the head 47 thereof Vand at the shoe contact portion 48, the side walls preferably terminating at their lower ends a short distanceabove the under or Contact surface of the'rail. In this 4manner the side walls over- Y lap the sides of the shoe contact portion of the rail and may, if desired, project beneath the contact surface, as this depends Vconsiderably on the form or construction of the conf tact element traveling in contactwith the contactvsurface of the'rail. One-formlofsuchtraveling contact element is shown at 99,

Fig. 14, wherein a portion of a locomotive or an attachmentto a locomotive is .l shown carrying said contact element, thev portionof the locomotive or the' attachment thereto be-I ing designated by the numeral 100.` r

The straight-line bond-covering i sections 92 are similarin .formation to the main or straight-line coveringsections 91, with theJ exception that the sidewalls 101 are spaced i farther apart and each side wall is provided' y with vertically-disposed .spacing ribs or.` flanges 102 these rbeing oppositelydisposed near .each endof the section toform co'actingk ribs or flanges near each end of the section. The opposite ribs or flanges arev spaced apart the saine distance as the sidewalls of the main or straight-line covering sections 91 so that Y the side walls of the bondingsections between said spacing ribs or flanges are held spacedy from ,the portions of the rail over which the covering section is applied; this beingineces- V sary, due to the fact that the bonding wires 90 extend outwardly beyond the edges or side faces of the head and` contact shoe portions of the rail, as clearly shown in Fig.12. `The spacing ribs orflanges 102, only, lie in Contact with said edges or side` faces,` and on each of these lspacing ribs or flanges, retainer cles,

mentslOS are formed; they being similar to retainer elements 98 on they inainicoveringV sections 91. i

Due to the fact that the contact shoe por? tions of the offset rail sections extend lat-k erally at the outer and innersdes of the rail to a .greater eXtent than the contact shoe por-` tion of the straight-line rail sections and that the degree of extension at they inner.V

side is considerably greater than atthe outer side, also that the contact surface thereof inclines downwardly from thel inner edge of the shoe contact portion tothe outer edge thereof, the side walls 105, 106 of each ,offset section v93V are disposed at obtuse angles to the crown wall 107 of such. section,'the outer"v side wall beingat a lesser obtuse angle to Vsaid crown wall than the winner` side wall.;

These side walls normally 'assumethesame position with relation to the outer edges ,of

the head and shoe contact portionsoffthe oset rail section, as the sidewalls of the main or straight-line covering sections. The

inn-er 'sidewall 106 inclines under a gradualiV slope from the head ofthe rail `section to the inneredge of the shoe contact portion;` it being consequently necessary to provide the inner side of said inner side wall with a comparatively heavy longitudinallyldis'- i posed rib ori enlargement 108 of.substantial` KVly triangular formation: in :cross-section, so

as to form a-'bearing surface which is in firm i' kcontact with the adjacent edge or side faceV ofthe head of jthe offset rail. VOn the under face of said triangular rib or enlargement,

substantially triangular lugs 110l are ar-' ranged, which are spaced apartalong thev lengthof the section and have retainer elements kat their. inner angles in the form ofr lips111, as clearly shown in Fig. .14. The

outer lside wallalso hasretainer elements 112 in the form of spaced-apart lugs.

kThe offset covering sections 93 have their vsidewalls normally approaching each other somewhat closer 'than shown in Fig. 14, be-

v ing constructed to` operate under theksame principle as the main covering sections, in

i that the sidewalls must be rigid enough to cause them to be forced outwardly in applying the vcovering sections to the rail sections;

the inherent resiliency of the walls -of such offset coveringsections causing the retainer elements 111 and 112 to be positively engaged with the under side of the head of the rail section,while the outer marginal portions of the sidewalls spring against and remainv in firm contact with the opposite side edges of f the'outwardly-inclined shoe contact portion kof said rail sections.

Thetransition covering section 95 comprises atop ork crown wall 113 andptwo side walls 114,` 115, one end of each transition covering section conforming in cross section to! the cross-sectional formation of the straight-line covering sections, while the other end conforms in cross-section to the cross-sectional formation ofthe oset sections; thus providing a wide and a narrow endV `for eachtransition covering section, with theresult that the intermediate portion Vofseach ofsaid sections is graduallynarrowed vfrom'the wide portion to thelnarrow portion; this being clearly shown in Figs. 23 to 25.. Itis to be noted that the side wall 114 has@ substantially parallel end portions which lie against the parallel end portions of the offset Vrail section shown in Fig. 15, while the intermediate portion of said wall isv obliquely disposed to conform to and lie against theV intermediate oblique portion of said transitionI rail section. The side wall 115, which is'disposed along the major portion of its' length at' a greater obtuse angle than the.

major portionof the side wally 114, gradually #approachesa rightlangular `position with respectto the'crown wall of said coverin'gsection fromits 'greatest obtuse angularity, so that: the .free .longitudinal marginal. portion orlower edge portion of this side wall lies against the-outer. edge of the inwardly-extendedV partof they shoe Contact portion r54.

; vLike'the` oifsetcovering section, the inner side wall 115 off each transition covering secrition hasa triangular enlargement 116 on its inner face, gradually reduced in transverse end, as clearly shown in Fig..25, and?v at the Yapex or-inner corner of this triangular enlargement, retainer lugs 117- are provided, which engagegthe-under side ofthe head of the transition rail section. Directly opposite these retainer lugs 117, similar retainer lugs 118 are formedat the apex or inner corners of aV somewhat triangular enlargement 119 lformed lengthwise on the inner surface of the outer side wall 114 (Figs. 13 and 25). The triangular enlargements provided o n the offset covering sections and the transition covering sections have one oftheir surfaces serving as a bearing surface, as-at 120, and these triangular enlargements-may also dimension from its-wide end vt'o its ynarrow be referredtovv as integral fillers, which fill Y wail adjacent the crown wall 123 ofthe sec-y'. tion, a pair of triangular lugs 124 arel formed, each lug having an inwardly-extending retainer lip 125. The retainer lugs of these offset bond covering sections therefore'pre-j sent inclined faces to' the corners of the headsl of the rails in the same manner as the other covering sections referred to; and as clearly. shown lin Fig.v 2, these triangular lugs, vwhich ith the lips 125 extending therefrom, serve as retainer lugs or elements, and they are disposed near opposite ends of the section.

As clearly shown, the retainer elements on the'cpposite side walls of the severalA covering sections are preferably in transverser alinement, and it is particularly to be noted n that before applying the main or straightline covering sections to the straight-line rail" sections, and the straight-line bond-covering sections to the rail sections,fthe side walls lof said covering sections normally incline downwardly and inwardly under the'inherent resiliency Vof the walls of said-sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 20. In applying these sections to the third rail, it is necessary to eX- ert force lagainst the, side walls from the in-V ner sidesv thereof to separate them, and by reason lof the retainer lugs or elements '98 and 103l being shaped to provide beveled under faces, as at 126, which may be termed riding surfaces, thesek bevel-faces come in contact with the rounded upper corners of the headsV of the rails and by exerting pressure down- Y wardly on the covering sections, cause the sid'e wa'lls to spread-apart sufficiently to pro-i vide assurance that the lower edges of these' .t side walls will'not come in contact with` the Vwardly, bringing saidv retainer lugs or elements firmly against the under side of the head of the rail and the side walls at their lower marginal portions in firm contact with the sides of the shoe contact portion of the rail; thus positively retaining the covering sections on the rail sections in a manner tot guard against the elements of the weather coming in contact with the rail and causing short circuits, and at the same time provi d-j ingV an effective and positive insulation guard or protect-or to prevent accidents to persons whose duties compel them toftravelv adjacent to or pass over the rails. f

It is therefore to be noted that all of the covering sections are adapted to be forced or snapped over the rail under pressure, and that the beveled riding faces of the retainer lugs or elements formed on said sections, all ride in contact with the edges or side faces of the heads of the rail sections, and when exerting pressure against the upper sides of the covering sections, cause the side walls to separate regardless of their normal positions or angularity relatively, 'with the result that in each instance, as the retainer lugs or elements ride off the edges or side faces of the head of the rail sections, the inherent resiliency of the falls of the covering sections cause the side walls to spring toward the rail sections. No extraneous fasteningl devices offany kind are therefore required to retain the covering sections on the rail sections.

It is also to be noted that offset rail sections are arranged between straight-line rail sections, and that the transition rail sections are invariably bonded to the offset and straightline rail sections. The transition rail sections are therefore connectors between the offset rail sections and the straight-line rail sections, and consequently in manycases bond covering sections are disposed at opposite ends of the transition coveiing sections. 'The bond covering sections ,areI comparatively short; each straight-line bond covering section-overlying the narrow end of a transition rail section and the abutting end of a straight-line railV section, while each offset bond covering section normally overlies the wide end of a transition rail section and the abutting end of an adjacent offset rail section.

It is further to be noted that with the exception of the transition sections I provide each of the coveringsections at one or both ends with lap enlargements 127, but such lap enlargements may be employed selectively;

that is to say, one or both ends of the transition covering sections may be provided with lap enlargements andthe adjacent ends of adjoining vcovering sections formed accordingly. rlhese lap enlargements provide internal shoulders 128 inl the `sectonsfwhere such enlargements are employed ofa width equaling thethickness of the walls of the sections so that the vadjacent end of the adj oining section may abut against'such shoulders with assurance ofvcontact over a considerable area, thus making a tight joint and preventing ingress of the elements of the weather, especiallyrain.

Vhile I have illustrated an insulatingr the various forms of railsections employed on third rails', it may be stated that the transition and off-set Vrail sections are invariably used at switches or cross-overs, such as snown in Fig. 2, and at suchvpoints there are invariably third rail sections employed adjacent the switch portions or cross-overs of the track rails, as shown at l29. These, however, are usually offset rail sections and naturally are provided with' olfsetlcovering sections; supporting brackets 36 being also employed along these rail sectionslequipped with' supporting insulators 57. The transition and offset rail sections and corresponding covering sections are-also employed along curved portions of tracks, as shownin Fig. 5, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates. i

Opposite ends of the supporting insulators 56 and 57 overlie the adjacent ends of the coveringL sections arrangedonthe rail adjacent such supporting insulators, as shown' at 130, thus the adjacent ends ofthe adj oining;

covering sections are overlapped by said supporting insulators in the same manneras one covering section has its end orends overlapping another. l

rlhe rail supporting insulators are also constructed of what may be designated a rubber composition, so termed'because of the fact that it contains a quantity of rubber enabling the composition to be molded to desired forni and vulcanized. This composition is `preferably rubber and waste material, including waste textile material, rubber-coated or third rail covering system, showing various Y forms of covering sections to effectively cover loo lll?) llo plain; itbeing understood thatwhere rub-` Having thus described my invention, what l I claim isx. y y y y l. An insulation covering for third rails of railway systems, formed of insulating inaterialhav'ing three walls arranged atangles to each other, said walls having inwardly- .projecting retainer elements on their inner sides provided with inclined riding faces.

adapted to ride in Contact with the opposite edgesl of the head of a thirdA rail under pressure applied to theV top of thecove'ring andto engage the under side of said head under the inherent resiliency of said walls.

2. An insulation covering forthird `rails of railway systems having comparatively rigid walls yieldable relatively and provided with at least one lapend formed by an end enlargement/aand with an internal shoulder overhung by saidv .end enlargement and h f ing section is adapted to bear.

' 3. An insulation covering for a third rail of railway systems having a ylaterally proagainst which the endfof 'an adj oining cover- "jecting head and ashoe contact portion, said covering having comparatively rigid walls yyieldable relatively under the inherent re# siliency'o'f said walls and provided with in ternal bearing ribs spaced apart and adapted to bear against the sides of the rail sections to provide aspacev between. the side walls of said coveringandat-he edges of the head and Ythe'shoe contact portion of the rail.

4. An insulation covering for third rails of substantially invertedv U-iormation in cross section to provide a crown Wallandtwo depending side walls, said walls being comparatively rigid and possessing inherent resiliency to permitflexing of said side walls with respect to ysaid crown wall, said sidewalls being normally inclined inwardly toward each othertrom said crown wall downwardly and having internal retaining means projecting inwardly and adapted to Vengage the Vunder side oic the head of' a rail. l 1

5. An insulation covering for a third rail having a head and a shoe contact portion,coni

prising a. crown wall andside walls arranged at obtuse angles to said'crown wall, oneof said side walls being at a greater obtuse angle than the other, said walls beingv compara-. tively rigid and possessing inherent resiliency,

to assure inward pressure andfpermit movement relatively, said side walls bei ig. pro'- vided on their inner sides'with integral longitudinal filler regions adapted toA bear against opposite edges of the head ,ofv the` rail, the lower marginal portions oi said side walls. being adapted to contact under their inherent resiliency against the edgeseof the shoe cont-act portion of the rail, said integral filler-'regions having retainer Vlugsl adapted to engage the .under side ofthe head of theV rail.

6, An insulation covering for a third rail having a head anda shoe Contact portion,

i the head of the rail.

comprising a crown wall and side walls ar-v ranged at obtuse angles to said crownA wall, one of said side wallsbeing at a greater obtuse angle than the other, said Walls possessing inherent resiliency assuring inward pressure and permitting relative'inoveinent of the lower .marginal portions of .said side iwailsjto cause contact thereof'under inherent vpressure `of said walls against` the edges of the shoe contact portion or" the rail,- theinner surfaces of said side walls being provided with retainer elements spaced apart and from said crownk wall to engage the under side. of the head of a rail when the covering is ap. plied thereto. y y 1 l f A 7. An insulation covering for a third rail having a head and a shoe Contact portion, Ycoiiip-iisiiig three comparatively rigid walls arranged at angles to each otherone of said walls serving as a crown wall and adapted to lie against the top of the third rail and the remaining Walls extending from said crown wall and having tree lower marginal portions retained in relative relation under the inherent resiliencyof said walls, said remaining walls being adapted to slightly separate when applying the covering to a third vrail and 'being adapted to engage the opposite edges-ot the shoe contact portion of the rail, said covering having internal retainer means adapted toengage 8. An insulation covering Vfor thirdrails of railway systems, comprisingstraight-line main covering sections, each of substantially U-forniation in cross section, an oifset coveringsection having a crown wall and side walls at obtuse angles vto said crown wall, a

straight-line bond covering section of substantially inverted U-ormation in cross section and of larger transverse dimension than said main sections, an voffset bond covering n section corresponding in cross section to, but o't larger internal transverse dimension thansaid first-mentioned offset covering section, and a transition Vcovering section gradually reduced in transverse dimension from onel end portion thereof tol the other and having one end portion thereof conforming in shape to one of said offset bond covering sections and its other 'end portion to Vone of said the under side ofV thereof conforming to said offset covering other, right and left hand transition covering sections at opposite ends of said series lof offset covering sections, each transition covering section 'being gradually 4reduced inV transverse dimension from 'one end portion thereof to the other and having one end portionV thereof conforming in cross-sectional shape to the adjacent series of main cover-A ing sections and its other end to the inter mediate series of offset coveringsections, the side walls of all of said sections being provided'with integral internal retainer elements adapted to engage the under side'of the head of a third rail.

covering section havinga crownl wall and side walls at obtuse angles to said crown wall.

i 15. An insulation covering for-third rails of railway systems, including an offset .cov-

ering section having'va-crown walland side a u a I vw." wallsiat' angles to said crown wall,"onel of said sidewalls beingat a greater angle than the other.

16.` An insulation covering forthird rails y of railway systems, including' a transition covering sectioncoinprising a crown wall and sidewalls and being gradually reduced in thereof to the other,` the larger end offsaid section having its side walls at an angle to transverse dimension from fonelend portion r` eov l the crown wall and one of the sidewalls at* f a greater angle :than the other `while the other Y Y end of said section has its sidewalls yinsuch n relation to the crownwall so 'as to'forin a sub1 stantially U-shapedcross section.

In testimony whereof, I aiiX` my signature. a `WILLIAM H.FORD.

11. In combination with an offset third rail havinga wide shoe contact at its lowei` end, said contact being formed byflanges extending outwardly and inwardly, said inwardlyextending iange being wider than said outwardly-extending flange, and said shoe con-1 tact having a downwardly andl outwardly- 'l y i inclined contact surface, of a supporting insulator encompassingv the upper portion Vof said rail and in contact with the outer edge of said outwardly-extending flange, said sup-l i porting insulator having an inwardly-directed comparatively wide extension which c, Y.

fino overlies the said inwardly-directed flange and,V v

bears against theI outer marginal portionVY thereof.

12. An insulation covering for third rails of railway systems, comprising end to end ap-`v plied sections havin comparatively rigid walls yieldable relatively and having said walls of a d enite thickness, each section being provided withat least onelap end formed by an end enlargement and with an internal shoulder Vof a width approximately that of the thickness/of the wallsv overhung by said end enlargement and against which the end of an adjoining covering section y is adaptedV to bear. v

18. An insulation covering for third rails of railway systems, comprising straight-line I main covering sections, each of substantially U-formation in cross section, andan offset covering section havinga crown wall and side walls at obtuse angles to said crown wall.

14. An insulation covering for third rails of railwaysystems, comprising straight-linev r main covering sectionsV of substantially U- formation in cross section, and an offset bond 

